Police Commissioner Ray Kelly delivered a blistering broadside to the entire field of mayoral candidates Monday, accusing them of refusing to say how they would prevent another 9/11 attack and of not even trying to find out how the authorities plan to fight terror.

“The threat of terrorism is as great, if not greater, today than it was before the World Trade Center was destroyed,” he said, citing ominous developments in the Middle East, including the Syrian crisis.

“Yet I can tell you that none of the candidates has requested a briefing from the Police Department on this topic,” he said in a speech to the Association for a Better New York and the Council on Foreign Relations in Manhattan.

“The public should demand detailed answers” from the candidates on how they would fight terror — and on whether they would retain NYPD “programs and strategies that have kept the city safe,” he said.

“Where do the candidates stand on these issues?” he asked. “Surprisingly, we haven’t heard much.”

“We simply don’t know.”

Kelly’s attack — his first major comment on the mayoral election — left the City Hall hopefuls scrambling for answers just a day before Tuesday’s primary vote.

Democratic front-runner Bill de Blasio said he had inquired with City Hall about terror.

“We did ask for a briefing on Aug. 29. We made a formal request to City Hall,” he said.

The candidates did not offer the detailed answers Kelly was asking for but instead spoke in general terms.

“I’ve worked with the NYPD in various capacities now for over 20 years,” said de Blasio, the public advocate. “And I’ve said repeatedly I believe fundamentally in maintaining our strong commitment to anti-terror work.”

Democrat Bill Thompson said it wasn’t his responsibility but Kelly’s to arrange an NYPD briefing.

“It would have been nice if he extended the invitation,” he said. “I would have been happy to come in.”

Democratic City Council Speaker Christine Quinn seemed flustered by Kelly’s rebuke and insisted her staffers have “been meeting with the appropriate people with the Police Department.”

“My staff has been in constant — as we always are, not just because of the campaign — constant contact with the mayor’s office about terrorism and public-safety issues, getting briefings and updates,” Quinn said.

“Commissioner Kelly is doing as all commissioners are doing for Mayor Bloomberg, insisting that the current administration knows best about everything,” he said.

Republican Joe Lhota said he thought the tradition in mayoral elections was to begin briefings only after the primaries. Once nominated, he said, he would contact Kelly, whom he described as “a friend.”

Republican John Catsimatidis said he avoided consulting Kelly out of courtesy.

“I don’t want to put him in a position where he gets in trouble with Bloomberg for me asking to meet with him,” he said.

He added that he had met with the New York Police Foundation, an organization of business and civic leaders that supports the NYPD.

Catsimatidis launched a series of Twitter comments about the city’s security on Monday.

“Attacking Syria will put a bull’s-eye on New York for another terrorist attack,” one tweet read.

“The talk out of Washington in recent days is already making New York City less safe,” another said.

Thompson questioned the timing of Kelly’s comments, as well as the commissioner’s sincerity.

“It is a little strange that the commissioner has chosen to do this 24 hours before the election,” he said.

“It would’ve been nice if he was serious about the offer, if he would’ve done this a few weeks ago or a few months ago. If he would’ve mentioned it before, I’m sure all of us — I know I would’ve — taken him up on the offer.”

Kelly defended the NYPD’s anti-terror tactics and warned that the city is slipping into a casual attitude toward terror.

“I think the fact that we haven’t had a successful attack [since 2001] has lulled us into a feeling of complacency,” he said. “We understand that people want to get on with their lives. We can’t afford that.”

“There are few questions more important than what the next mayor will do to protect the city from terrorism,” he said. “New York remains squarely in the cross hairs of global terrorism.”

Speaking of Syria, he said, “We’re keeping a close eye on that country’s sworn allies, Iran and Hezbollah,” noting they have targeted “Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide.”

He raised the possibility of New York “jihadists” joining the al Qaeda-linked al Nusra rebel group in Syria.

“Our concern is what happens when these individuals return home?” he said.

What's Your Take?

One way to prevent another 9/11 is to investigate & put a stop to the crimes & corruption of the Port Authority. Crimes such as the theft of lost property from inside of the Port Authority Bus Terminal’s Lost & Found Dept. by its supervisors, and the illegal policy of throwing lost valid passports that are found in the bus terminal in the garbage. Now just imagine the damage a terrorist cell could do with those valid passports or an identity theft ring. Such a blatant national security breach is inexcusable, unconscionable and criminally irresponsible.

In this age of global terrorism and rampant identity theft, the Port Authority is a reckless shameful embarrassment of bi-state transportation agency where it comes to safety & security in this area. To ignore this gaffe would be a crime on all levels of local, state & federal government and all persons in a position of responsibility. Action must be taken against these insane incompetent criminals in the Port Authority before more innocent lives are lost.

Madam Commissioner Kkkelly: are you trying to re-write his-story? Query: if I, as a non-cop, non-governmental official, ask for a NYPD briefing on terrorism, or any subject...let's say the numerous NYPD employees caught selling guns in the past 3 years, how would I obtain said briefing? The NYPD would first claim that I am not allowed to see said information wtihout a FOIA (FOIL) request. Then, after denying that request, the NYPD will claim I am not authorized nor do I hold the required 'security clearance' to view such information. Okay, my Racist Commissioner....let's say I decide to run for Mayor of NYC. Why would the NYPD's responses outlined above, suddenly change? Can all cadidates for Mayor recived such a briefing, regardless of whether they win? You sir, need to resign and try to bring back Bratton.

Does no one remember the TRUCK BOMB in Times Square by Faishad whatsisname? It failed to go off and two T-SHIRT VENDORS nabbed him, despite this terror act being in the HEART of Kelly's famed "RING OF STEEL" in Times Square! This is like Al Qaeda walking INTO the Pentagon and kicking their ass! Why didn't the world's largest and finest police force PREVENT THIS, eh, Popeye?

That would be enough for Kelly to resign, but there's plenty more: ANOTHER bomb in Times Square's "Ring Of Steel" and super-NYPD protection: the white kid on the bike who threw a pipe bomb at the Army Recruitment Center in the VERY CENTER OF TIMES SQ. (Not ONE cop saw a thing? Wow!)

And like 80% of other crimes in NYC, Keystone Kelly never solved it! The guy's such an idiot even the FBI has repeatedly said Kelly helps terrorists! No wonder Mike begged Kerik to be PC before he settled on idiot Kelly!

This cop couldn't even find his own tallywacker. He should concentrate of hate crimes which are all black on white in NYC like poor dead Mr Babbitt. It's the White people who pay the taxes and this guy's salary

Is this joker for real? he is just auditioning for his home land security job. he wants it SOOOOO bad. He is now taking credit for defeating al Qaeda. Look at me I am a hero! meantime he has been notorious for letting the NYPD kill unarmed minorities right and left.

New York'ers deserve whatever comes their way. All BLUE states (the states with the highest number of people on public assistance by the way) deserve the economic destruction their liberal ideas bring.

Electing one of these perfect examples of everything that is wrong with the diseased philosophy known as liberalism would actually hurt NYC far worse than AlQaeda ever could. Talk about having to pick from the bottom of the barrel. Whichever one of these horrors is elected-one thing is certain-when they leave office NYC will be broke and they will be a millionaire.

@Robert I agree, but even the dumbest aren't half as dumb as Rudy or Mike! Rudy gave record pay raises to himself (50%!) and the do-nothing City Council (75%!) and his chauffeur KERIK (250%) and the rest of his cronies... while slashing all services like repaving streets or repainting the Bklyn Bridge (so we now have to spend $500 million to sandblast the rust away bf we can repaint it).

BLOOMBERG is an idiot unparalleled, and Looney Giuliani is a close second. No one could ever be worse.

@Sycophanticus Mediocrity BUT RUDY AND MIKE were literally the two MOST LIBERAL politicians in US history (and the REPUBLICANS put them into office in 5 elections). Mike even boasted of being a "lifelong democrat" and the GOP went nuts for him, even begging him to run a 3rd time! Yikes!

1993 NYC BUDGET WHEN RUDY CAME IN: $32 billion.

2013 NYC BUDGET after SUPERLIBS Rudy and Mike: $70 billion! FIND ME ANOTHER CITY ON EARTH WITH AN OVER-100% SPENDING HIKE. I dare you to. Even Bush and Obama weren't quite as liberal in spending OUR money as GOP rudy and GOP mike were. If you hate liberals, then you hate the GOP, right?

@Charlie Santos@Ollie Berger I guess the truth hurts. Can you name an UNARMED white person the NYPD has killed? And no, I do not call 911 when I need help. better to call 311 as 911 doesn't work properly anymore, thanks to Mayor McCheese.